Submitted by NAVAIR Headquarters Public Affairs Office

The Naval Air Systems Command was recently awarded not one, but two impressive safety awards. On January 10, in a naval message announcing both awards, NAVAIR was named winner of the CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) Readiness Through Safety Award and the Adm. James S. Russell Naval Aviation Flight Safety Award for 2004.

According to the message, the awards are presented annually to the organization that contributes the most toward readiness and economy of operation through safety. The command selected must have an outstanding safety record, an aggressive safety program and an improving three-year safety trend.

“NAVAIR earned these prestigious honors by being the safest operational TYCOM (type commander) among eight Navy and Marine Corps Controlling Custodians,” said Vice Admiral Walter Massenburg, NAVAIR Commander. “This is especially noteworthy in view of our difficult mission of acquisition, design, test and evaluation, and of the diverse support we provide to the fleet aircraft and systems.”

NAVAIR has flown more than 31,000 hours with no Class “A” flight, flight-related or aviation ground mishaps. A Class “A” mishap is one in which damage to property, aircraft or a UAV exceeds $1 million. A Class “A” mishap also includes any destruction or disappearance of an aircraft or any fatality or permanent disability resulting from the direct involvement of a naval aircraft or UAV. Loss of a UAV is not a Class “A” unless the cost is $1 million or more.

“This recognition could not have been achieved without the full participation and commitment of our Test Wings, Aviation Commands, NAVAIR Depots, Program Offices, engineers, test pilots, support staff and many others, including our Defense Contract Management Agency and all our contractor partners who directly or indirectly supported our Naval Aviation Safety Programs within NAVAIR,” said Massenburg.

The Adm. James S. Russell Naval Aviation Flight Safety Award is given by the Order of Daedalians, a fraternal organization of military pilots promoting leadership in air and space power. A Daedalian trophy and award has been presented annually since 1978 to the United States Navy Flying unit selected by the Chief of Naval Operations as having the most effective flight safety accident prevention program.

The award will be presented to NAVAIR at the Daedalian’s awards banquet in San Antonio this May.